Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1919)

August 2 , I 9 I Q 1057 Educational Program for Schools John Siefert, president of Maimi Va'ley Exhibitors League, Dayton, Ohio Director Hugh Ford Is Signed for Long Term Hugh Ford, special director for Famous Players-Lasky Corporation has just signed a new long-term contract with that company. The continuation of the relationship which has existed for so many years, it is stated, is a source of satisfaction to the officials of the corporation who will continue to have the benefit of his counsel in both the motion picture and the dramatic field as a result of the recent acquisition of the Chas. Frohman, Inc., interests. During the summer Mr. Ford, who recently arrived in^New York from California, where he had just finished "In Mizzoura" at the Lasky studio, will be in daily conference with authors, dramatists and others who are active in formulating plans for the stage presentations contemplated by the Famous Players-Lasky organization. The opportunity to avail themselves of the ideas and suggestions which Hugh Ford may offer in collaboration with the Chas. Frohman, Inc., organization is one which all those connected with the theatrical production activities of Famous Players-Lasky prize highly, for Mr. Ford enjoys a reputation as a master of stagecraft and stage direction. Reguladons in Augusta The National Board of Review has received copies of resolutions providing for the regulation of motion pictures recently adopted in Augusta, Ga. These resolutions are interesting to the trade as showing a type of regulation which is evolved as a result of The National Board's work. The resolutions debar the exhibition of any picture in Augusta which has not been approved by the National Board of Review, unless such picture has previously been described to the Commission and received its approval. It is further provided that no age limit for attendance at a picture be fixed unless previously approved by the Commission. No Lack of Patronage In Cleveland as throughout the country manj^ motion picture houses are reported closed for the summer months, but not as an economical measure — ^merely in practically every instance for repairs, re-modelling and improvements." CLOSELY following the news that the Methodist Episcopal Church, at its centenary convenliou in Columbus, Ohio, had accepted ihe motion picture as a means of education, it was announced this week that the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation has completed most comprehensive plans for the production and distribution of non-theatrical pictures to schools, colleges, churches, social centers and other public institutions. The pictures that will be distributed to these institutions, it is stated, will not be of the type that would put schools, social centers and such nontheatrical enterprises in competition with motion picture exhibitors. On the contrary, these pictures, it is announced, will be strictly non-theatrical and educational, and are being distributed to satisfy the growing demand for the exhibition of films of this nature to people who are interested in educational and civic affairs. The department for the production and distribution of non-theatrical pictures is in charge of David K. Niles, widely known for his work in the educational film field. For the last three years Mr. Niles has been motion picture director for the Milwaukee schools, and during the war had charge of the motion picture section Far Reaching Plan Put in Operation by F. P.-Lasky of the Department of Labor. He also was chairman of the joint conference of motion picture activities of the United States Government and Allied organizations. Assisting Mr. Niles are Carl H. Carsons, a well-known educator, who will edit the picture from the pedagogical standpoint; Edwin Lipkin, formerly director of social and civic activities in several big New York charitable institutions, who will supervise the pictures from the standpoint of non-educational public institutions; Miss Rose Tapley, who will carry on motion picture work before women's clubs and kindred organizations, and Miss Margaret Brotherton. The educational subjects in the nontheatrical group are being arranged along courses which have been formulated by some of the foremost educational authorities in the country. These pictures primarily are for exhibition in schools. Although they will be strictly educational, they will in no way, it is stated, replace tHe Exhibitors Will Push Fight State Bodies Hold Meedngs to Plan Campaign on Tax Repeal ; Big Response THE suggestion of the Committee on Legislation and Tax of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of America, Inc., that exhibitors in each state get together at special meetings and conventions to consider the tax repeal campaign is meeting with response. A special meeting of the Exhibitors' League of Maryland was held on July 22nd at Baltimore, when the repeal campaign plans for that state were outlined to the exhibitors by Thomas D. Goldberg, State Director of the campaign in Maryland. Many exhibitors promised to see their congressmen. The' Virginia exhibitors will convene at Ocean View, Va., on August 13-14, and one of the principal objects in calling it is to take up the tax fight. State Director Jake Wells of Rich mond, Va., has invited delegations from Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and North Carolina to attend for general discussion. Theodore L. Hays, who made a determined and successful fight in Minnesota for the exhibitors in the music tax matter has accepted the state directorship for that state. He considers this campaign will bring exhibitors closer together than ever. The Governor of New Hampshire, Hon. John H. Bartlett, of Portsmouth. N. H., has been appointed a district leader under State Director Charles H. Bean, president of the INIotion Picture Exhibitors League of N. H. Harry Crandall of Wasjiington, D. C, accepted the directorship for his district. Meeting of National Association Group A meeting of the General Division, Class 5 of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry will be held at 805-806 Times Building, New York, July 31st, at 3 o'clock. This meeting is called for the purpose of nominating seven directors to represent the General Division in the Board of Directors of the National Association for the ensuing year. The directors so nominated are to be elected by ballot at the annual meeting of the members of the Association to be held at the Hotel Seneca, Rochester, N. Y., on August 5th, 1919. Such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting will be received and proper action taken thereon. Jack Eaton Succeeds Plunkett at Strand Mr. Jack Eaton, who has just been appointed managing director of the Strand Theatre, succeeding Mr. Joseph L. Plunkett, who has affiliated himself with the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, is one of Broadway's youngest theatrical managers. Mr. Eaton, who hails from Philadelphia, entered the film industry as a publicity man and was for a long time on the staff of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. He rapidlyrose to the position of director, and is responsible for the production of the James Montgomery Flagg Comedies. He resigned his position as director with the Town and Country^ Films in order to take up his new duties at the Strand. textbooks, but will supplement the present teaching facilities, making schools more interesting for pupils and allowing teachers greater time for the handling of their classes. Other pictures are being produced for exhibition both in schools and semi-educational centers. These it is declared, will . be educational in a broader sense and will be less closely related to school subjects than those produced for special school presentation. The non-theatrical subjects will be handled from the regular twenty-eight Famous Players-Lasky Exchanges in this country, special representatives being assigned to each exchange to care for their distribution to public institutions. In speaking this week of his plans, Mr. Niles said: " I think it is not generally appreciated that there are more projection machines outside of motion picture theatres than there are engaged in the projection of strictly theatrical subjects. But this is a fact, and it shows that already the private institutions of this country have awakened to the great educational and social value which lie in the films." Peter Schaefer, Chicago Film Man, Married The bridal paths of the northern shore have been robbed of one of their most decorative features by the desertion to the bridal path of Mrs. Clara Arnold. At a very exclusive ceremony last week in the French room of the Blackstone Hotel, Peter J. Schaefer, well known Chicago clubman and theatrical magnate, was married to Mrs. Arnold. The bonds were tied by Judge Joseph Sabath. A dinner was served in an adjoining room immediately after the ceremony and then Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer left for a wedding tour among the Canadian Rockies. They will leave Vancouver on July 26th for Alaska, returning to the states by way of Yellowstone, spending a few weeks at the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs. They will sojourn at Hot Springs, Va., and will winter in California. Mr. Schaefer is prominent in club circles, living as he has for the past three years at the South Shore Country Club, and being a member of the Chicago Athletic Club and a golfer of no mean importance. In preparation for this protracted honej-moon, Mr. Schaefer resigned his offices as President of the National Motion Picture Industry and President of the Allied Amusement Association. Added to Lynch String The S. A. Lynch Enterprises , have purchased the Alcazar, Bonita, arid acquired the lease on the Grand at the time it expires, in Tampa, Florida. By acquiring these three houses, the Lynch Companj have onl} two competitors in Tampa's main business district. The Strand and The Prince, and the New Mctory which will be completed by fall.